Fiat Tipo

Early first drive of Fiat’s forthcoming Tipo reveals dynamics which fall short of the class best, although quality along with comfort impress You’re looking at the completely new Fiat Tipo, or thereabouts, your vehicle with which Fiat is actually set to make a return to the mass market C-segment – along with in a big way.your vehicle you see here, a functional, compact three-box saloon, forms the basis of a completely new three-car family which Fiat has created for Europe, the Middle East along with Africa.First to be released is actually which saloon, badged Aegea from the Turkish market in which which’s built. For the UK along with mainland Europe, however, Fiat is actually reviving the Tipo nameplate (via the late 1980s along with early 1990s) along with has set up additional 5-door hatch along with wagon versions to be sold alongside the four-door.While the Aegea/Tipo saloon is actually out right now, the coming hatch along with wagon editions are set to appear at the Geneva show next spring, ahead of an on-sale date from the UK next September.At a private showing at Fiat’s Design Centre in Turin, we’ve seen all three versions of the completely new Aegea/Tipo series. While the hatch along with wagon remain officially under wraps, the Aegea saloon is actually right now ‘live’ (which was actually unveiled at the Istanbul Motor Show back in May). We’ve also had a spell behind the wheel.Designed around the brief ‘Skills not Frills’ along with claiming to provide class-topping roominess, boot capacity along with value for money, Fiat’s newcomer is actually based on the same platform as which used by the Jeep Renegade. Up front, there’s an orthodox mix of 1.4-litre (94bhp) along with 1.6-litre (108bhp) petrol Fiat group engines, along with 1.3-litre (94bhp) along with 1.6-litre (118bhp) Multijet II diesels.Expect the coming Tipo hatch to be Focus-sized (although a touch narrower), while which Aegea saloon, with more than 500 litres of boot capacity, stands a lengthier 4.54 metres via stem to stern. The Tipo wagon is actually just a fraction longer.At a time when Fiat is actually dividing up along with reassessing its product range as either ‘aspirational’ (500, 124 Spider) or ‘functional’ (Panda along with Doblo), there’s no doubt into which camp which completely new Aegea/Tipo falls. The first thing worth noting is actually which in appearance, for a supposedly bread along with butter product, the Aegea is actually surprisingly upscale. The front end, dominated by the attractive full-width grille, narrow headlights along with sculptured bonnet, packs the kind of premium look which was never seen on previous Fiats in which class.Much the same can be said for the elegant tail end, with its sloping rear glass, along with sculptured roofline. The Aegea was designed in Italy first along with foremost as a saloon; which’s not a converted hatch with boot tacked on. If the sides along with, in particular, the rear door along with glass area, with Hofmeister kink, carry echoes of BMW’s past, buyers out there probably won’t complain too much.Through the streets of Turin, along the autostrada along with up through the hills of Asti, the Aegea proved to be a solid if unremarkable car to drive. which’s with the top 1.6 turbodiesel on board along with standard six-speed manual gearbox (automatic along with dual-clutch automatic options are also available).True, there was not bad pace via the gutsy 1.6 engine, however the lack of steering sharpness through turns was a surprise. So too was the amount of road noise, especially via the back of your vehicle. The gearchange was also mediocre. Maybe the 1.4 petrol (which we didn’t try) would likely do better, being lighter on its feet along with traditionally quieter.Comfort, though, was not bad, however even if the Aegea is actually a fundamentally well-balanced car, on which showing at least, its dynamics aren’t going to hold the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus running for cover.however Fiat has not set out to build a driver’s car. Instead the formula here is actually based around rationality, roominess, content, running costs along with competitive transaction cost. The cabin is actually comfortable, the dashboard looks along with feels not bad, the instruments are clear along with Indoor along with boot space are above average. There will also be two infotainment levels.How much of which will carry over to the forthcoming Tipo hatch? Only Fiat insiders know for sure at which time. however with the hatch required to command the bulk of sales (54%, compared to 28% for the saloon along with 18% for the wagon), which’s a formula Fiat creatives clearly have to get right. You can’t, or at least you can’t yet. The completely new Tipo hatch along with wagon are still the best part of a year away, along with Fiat UK is actually still deciding whether to take which three-box saloon, which delves into a part of the market which’s had very little traction from the UK of late. So an opportunity, perhaps?Our first time out with the Fiat Aegea/Tipo in Turin has revealed which style along with comfort are not bad. which’s maybe not the most refined car out there, however which still has the makings of a decent all-around proposition as a straightforward family car. Peter Nunn Fiat Tipo 1.6 110 Multijet IIPrice TBC Engine 4cyls, 1598cc, turbocharged, diesel; Power 118bhp; Torque TBC; 0-62mph TBC; Top speed TBC; Gearbox 6-spd manual; Kerb weight TBC; Economy TBC; CO2 TBC by via Autocar RSS Feed